Scotland has eight cities. Edinburgh is the capital city and Glasgow is the most populous. Scottish towns were granted burghs or royal burgh status by Scottish kings, including by David I of Scotland and William the Lion.
City status has later been granted by royal charter and letters patent. Scotland has gained new cities since the year 2000 via submitted bids to be awarded city status as part of jubilees of the reigning British monarch or for other events, such as the millennium celebrations. Dunfermline is the latest to be awarded city status.
| Name in English[1] | Name in Scottish Gaelic | Nickname | Council area | Year granted or confirmed | Recognition of Church by King or bishopric established | data-sort-type="number" | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | Dùn Èideann | Auld Reekie | City of Edinburgh |
| St Giles' Cathedral
| 495,360 | |
| Perth | Peairt | The Fair City | Perth and Kinross | St John's Kirk
| 50,000 | ||
| Aberdeen | Obar Dheathain | The Granite City | Aberdeen City | St Machar's Cathedral
| 197,000 | ||
| Inverness | Inbhir Nis | The Capital of the Highlands | Highland | Old High Church St Stephen's
| 47,000 | ||
| Stirling | Sruighlea | Gateway to the Highlands | Stirling |
| Dunblane Cathedral
| 37,000 | |
| Dunfermline | Dùn Phàrlain | The Ancient Capital | Fife |
| Dunfermline Abbey
| 54,990 | |
| Glasgow | Glaschu | Dear Green Place | Glasgow City | Glasgow Cathedral
| 598,830 | ||
| Dundee | Dùn Dè | City of Discovery | Dundee City | Dundee Parish Church (St Mary's)
| 150,000 |
| City | Population (locality) | Population (settlement) | Locality area km[34] | Settlement area km[35] | Density (locality) per km | Density (settlement) per km | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | 147 | 274 | |||||
| Edinburgh | 119 | 126 | |||||
| Aberdeen | 60.7 | 75.6 | |||||
| Dundee | 46.5 | 50.2 | |||||
| Dunfermline | 19.9 | 28.8 | |||||
| Inverness | 24.3 | 31.3 | |||||
| Perth | 17.5 | 17.5 | |||||
| Stirling | 16.3 | 20.9 |
The annals of Ulster cite Forteviot as the residence of Pictish kings Causantín mac Fergusa and Kenneth MacAlpin and that upon the destruction of Forteviot by the Danes, the Picts took residence across the river Tay, establishing Scone as a more defensible royal city.[36]
Causantín mac Áeda, King of Scots held the first recorded council at Scone in 906.[37] Malcolm IV of Scotland in a charter to the monastery of Scone states it was founded "in principali sede regni nostri".[38] Alexander III of Scotland became the first King of Scots to be crowned rather than enthroned in 1249 at Scone. Scone was described by John of Fordun on the crowning of as the "sedes superior", the principal seat of Scotland. Perth was made a royal burgh by David I of Scotland in ~1124. Scone is likely to have remained the Scottish capital until the reign of Malcolm III of Scotland.
Scone remained the capital until 1437 until this status shifted to Edinburgh. The name Edinburgh comes from the old Celtic for area, Eidyn and burgh, which means fortress. Edinburgh has been inhabited since at least 8500BC, when it was inhabited by Welsh-speaking Celtic Britons, and came under Scottish rule around 960CE after Indulf King of Scots seized it.[39] When James I of Scotland was killed in 1437, James II of Scotland moved the royal court from Perth to Edinburgh.[40] James III of Scotland (1451–88) later referred to it as "the principal burgh of our kingdom".[41] In 1633 Charles I referred to Edinburgh in a charter as the "principal burgh of our kingdom of Scotland" and "the chief city".[42]
Glasgow was recognised in 1175 via the granting of a burgh in a charter by William the Lion. In 1476, Charter of James III of Scotland confirmed "the City and Barony in free regality".
Edinburgh was recognised as a royal burgh from ~1124, introduced by David I of Scotland as part of his feudalisation after ascending to the throne in 1124.[43] In 1329, Robert the Bruce granted Edinburgh a town charter.[44] It was then made a city in 1633 by Charles I.
Dundee was created a royal burgh in ~1191 by William the Lion. Dundee was then granted city status via letters patent by Queen Victoria in 1889. The Charter recited previous charters granted to Dundee including the Confirmation by Robert the Bruce in 1327, which recited those of William the Lion circa 1191.[45]
Aberdeen was granted royal burgh status by King David of Scotland (1124 - 1153). It was also most likely granted royal burgh status by King William the Lion in 1179. In 1891 Aberdeen was given city status by letters patent.
Inverness was made a royal burgh by King David I. In 2000, Inverness was awarded city status.
Stirling became a royal burgh in ~1124. In 2002 it became a city.
Perth was made a royal burgh by David I of Scotland in ~1124. James VI's Golden Charter to Perth in 1600 referred to it as a "free city and regal and royal burgh".[46] It was officially the second city of Scotland until 1975 when city status was removed when local government was reorganised. It regained the status in 2012.[47]
Dunfermline was also made a royal burgh in ~1124 by David I of Scotland. In 2022 it became the newest Scottish city.
In 1999, Ayr, Inverness, Paisley and Stirling applied for city status and Inverness was successful in 2000.[48]
In 2001, Ayr, Dumfries, Paisley and Stirling applied for city status.[49] Stirling was successful in 2002.
In 2012, Perth was the only Scottish bid for city status and was successful.[50]
Dumfries, Dunfermline, Elgin, Greenock, Livingston, Oban, St Andrews and South Ayrshire submitted bids for city status in 2021.[51] Dunfermline was successful in its city bid for 2022.